According to officials, the decision has been taken after the magazine continued to defame Pakistan and its leaders and distorted historical facts.

Local internet service providers (ISPs) have been instructed to block anything related to India Today on the internet. The decision will also be applicable on mobile phones.

According to the officials, the ban has been imposed under the ongoing national policy. He said the ban on the website was decided on the request of different organisations, which complained that India Today is propagating against Pakistan.

Last month, the chief justice Lahore High Court reportedly disposed of a petition seeking an order for the government to block website of India Today for publishing derogatory picture of Pakistani Army chief.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the decision to block any website was the job of the Parliament and citizens should approach the elected government on such matters.

A citizen Abdul Hameed had filed the petition contending that Indian journal India Today had been publishing anti-Pakistan material and it recently published an insulting picture of Pakistan Army chief on its cover page.

He asked the court to direct the government to block the website of the aforesaid Indian magazine in Pakistan.